In 2015, more than 90% of consumers reported purchasing or receiving gift cards - that's according to First Data Corp, and the subject of a recent Restaurant Hospitality article examining how franchise restaurant brands are making most of the holiday gift card opportunity.

“This year we really honed in on the Black Friday craze and made a big digital push on the local level, and it paid off,” Linsey Case, marketing manager of Buffalo Wings & Rings, told Restaurant Hospitality. “On Black Friday only, we offered a $10 bonus card with every $25 in gift card purchases, which we promoted via our Club ’84 eclub and heavily on local Facebook pages. We saw a 340 percent increase in the first week, with sales of just over 1,600 gift cards, and nearly 1,100 on Black Friday alone.”

Having fun with your holiday gift card promotion and allowing your team members to be creative with how they sell gift cards is another tip to make the most of the seasonal opportunity.